You are here

OKWU diamond guys win 3rd straight

A barrage of 17 hits — including three by nine-hole plate Hercules, Mason Feeler — powered the Oklahoma Wesleyan University baseball team to a 12-2 rout Wednesday of Hillsdale Baptist College.

The OKWU Eagles (6-2), who rolled to their third-straight home victory, are scheduled to host a weekend tripleheader against Doane (Neb.) College.

Friday’s contest is set for a noon start.

The teams will hook up again Saturday for a doubleheader, beginning at noon.

Although OKWU and Hillsdale met only once Wednesday, the visiting Saints must have felt like they suffered a double-dose of punishment.

OKWU accelerated to an 11-0 lead through the first three innings and never looked back.

The Saints scored twice in the top of the fifth to avoid the shutout. OKWU ended the game, on a run-rule, with a run in the bottom of the seventh.

Feeler st roked three singles, and drove in a run, to help spark OKWU’s Briareus-like offensive assault.

Other major contributors included Jose Ruiz with a triple, single and two RBIs; Jerett Hardy with a double, single and one RBI; Josh Donato with two singles and two RBIs; Jake Palese with two singles and a RBI; and Cody Riley with a double and RBI.

First-year Eagle starting pitcher Chad Backward carved out the win in 4.2 innings of work. He scattered four hits and no walks, while allowing two earned runs.

Evan Holmes and Tyler Hampton both took turns in relief.

After muscling out to a 4-0 lead in the first two innings, OKWU erupted for seven in the bottom of the third to pull away.

Nick White — the first of 11 Eagle batters in the frame — led off by hammering the first of five-consecutive singles to open the inning.

Hardy, Nick Palese, Jake Palese and Feeler stroked the others.

Nick Palese later stole home.

Ruiz delivered the biggest thunder of the inning, a triple to rightfield that plated Donato.

Lance Black added a sacrifice fly to bring home Ruiz for the final run of the inning.

Leading 11-2 after six-and-a-half-innings, OKWU ended the game in the bottom of the seventh.

Chris McElderry reached base on a fielder’s choice, advanced on Andrew Murphy’s fly out to center and scored on Landon Cloud’s single to effect the run-rule.

Matt Parker is the Eagles’ second-year head coach.

He recorded his 48th career victory at OKWU and can reach No. 50 this weekend, at home.

Through six games, Niko Christ is batting .500 (7-for-14) with three RBIs for the Eagles.

Jake Palese has appeared in five games and also is hitting at a .500 clip (5-for-10), with five RBIs.

Ruiz is ripping the ball for a .355 average (11-of-31) in eight games, with a team-high 10 RBIs and 15 total bases (tied with Riley).

Zach Hendrix has carved out a 2-0 pitching record, with an 0.75 earned run average in 12 innings of work.